One day he accepted an invitation from the old French priest to pay a visit to the Mission. He went away quietly one morning, and then wrote to Baldwin.
Ten miles is a good long way off, he thought. Ill be all right in a week or sothen Ill come back and be a fool no longer.
The priest liked the young man, and in his simple, hospitable way, made much of him. On the evening of the third day, as they paced to and fro on the path in the Mission garden, they saw Baldwins boat sail up to the beach.
See, said the priest, with a smile, M. Baldwin will not let me keep you; and Loisé comes with him. So, so, you must go, but you will come again? and he pressed the young Englishmans hand.
The sturdy figure of the old trader came up through the garden; Loisé, native fashion, walking behind him.
Knitting his heavy white eyebrows in mock anger he ordered Brice to the boat, and then extending his hand to the priestI must take him back, Father; the Malolo sails to-morrow, and the skipper is coming ashore to-night to dinner, to say good-bye; and, as you know, Father, Im a silly old man with the whisky bottle, and Ill get Mr. Brice to keep me steady.
The tall, thin old priest raised his finger warningly and shook his head at old Baldwin and then smiled.
Ah, M. Baldwin, I am very much afraid that I will never make you to understand that too much of the whisky is very bad for the head.
With a parting glass of wine they bade the good Father good-bye, and then hoisting the sail, they stood across for Rikitea. The sun had dipped, and the land-breeze stole softly down from the mountains and sped the boat along. Baldwin was noisy and jocular; Brice silent and ill at ease.
Another hours run and Baldwin sailed the boat close under the trading schooners stern. Leaning over the rail was the pyjama-clad captain, smoking a cigar.
Now then, Harding, bawled the old trader, dont forget to be up to time, eight oclock.
Come aboard, and make out your order for your trade, you noisy old Areoi devil, said Harding. Youll make it out ashore, eh? No fear, I wont trust you, you careless, forgetful old dog. So just lay up alongside, and Ill take you ashore in half an hour.
By Jupiter, I mustnt forget the order, and Baldwin, finding he could not inveigle the captain ashore just then, ran the boat alongside the schooner and stepped over her railGo on, Brice, my lad. Ill soon be with you. Give him some whisky or beer, or something, Loisé, as soon as you get to the house. He looks as melancholy as a ghost.
As the boats crew pushed off from the schooner, Brice came aft to steer, and placing his hand on the tiller it touched Loisés. She moved aside to make room for him, and he heard his name whispered, and in the darkness he saw her lips part in a happy smile.
Then, still silent, they were pulled ashore.
From his end of the house he heard a soft footfall enter the big room, and then stop. She was standing by the table when, soon after, he came out of his room. At the sound of his footstep she turned the flame of the shaded lamp to its full height, and then raised her face and looked at him. There was a strange, radiant expectancy in her eyes that set his heart to beat wildly. Then he remembered her husbandhis friend.
I suppose Tom wont be long, he began, nervously, when she came over to him and placed her hand on his sleeve. The slumbrous eyes were all aglow now, and her bosom rose and fell in short, quick strokes beneath her white muslin gown.
Why did you go away? she said, her voice scarce raised above a whisper, yet quivering and tremulous with emotion.
He tried to look away from her, trembling himself, and not knowing what to say.
Ah, she said, speak to me, answer me; why dont you say something to me? I thought that once your eyes sought mine in the boatthen as she saw him still standing awkward and silent, all her wild passion burst outBrice, Brice, I love you, I love you. And you, you hate me. He tried to stop her.
Her voice sank again. Oh, yes, yes; you hate me, else why would you go away without one word to me? Baldwin has told you ofofof something. It is all true, quite true, and I am wicked, wicked; no woman could have been worseand you hate me.
She released her hold upon his arm, and walking over to the window leant against it and wept passionately.
He went over to her and placed his hand upon her shoulder.
Look here, Loisé, Im very, very sorry I ever came here in the Maloloher shaking figure seemed to shrink at the wordsfor I love you too, but, Loiséyour husband was my fathers oldest friendand mine.
The oval, tear-swept face was dangerously close to his now, and set his blood racing again in all the quick, hot madness of youth.
What is that to me? she whispered; I love you.
Brice shut his fists tightly and thenfatal mistaketried to be angry and tender at the same moment.
Ah, but Loisé, you, as well as I, know that among English people, for a man to love his friends wife
Again the low whisperWhat is that to meand you? You love me, you say. And, we are not among English people. I have my mothers heartnot a cold English heart.
Loisé, Baldwin is my friend. He looks upon me as his son, and he trusts meand trusts you.... I could never look him in the face again.... If he were any other man I wouldnt care, or if, if
She lifted her face from his shoulder. Then you only lied to me. You dont love me!
That made him reckless. Love you! By God. I love you so that if you were any other mans wife but his He looked steadily at her and then, with gentle force, tried to take her arm from his neck.
She knew now that he was the stronger of the two, and yet wished to hear more.
Brice, dear Brice, she bent his head down to her lips, if Baldwin died would you marry me?
The faintly murmured words struck him like a shot; she still holding her arms around him, watched his face.
He kissed her on the lips. I would marry you and never go back to the world again, he answered, in the blind passion of the moment.
A hot, passionate kiss on his lips and she was gone, and Brice, with throbbing pulses and shame in his heart, took up his hat and went out upon the beach. He couldnt meet Baldwin just then. Other mens wives had never made him feel such a miserable scoundrel as did this reckless half-blood with the scarlet lips and starry eyes.
That night old Baldwin and the captain of the Malolo got thoroughly drunk in the orthodox and time-honoured Island business fashion. Brice, afraid of making an ass of himself, was glad to get away, and took the captain on board at midnight in Baldwins boat, and at the mates invitation remained for breakfast.
At daylight the mate got the Malolo under weigh, the skipper, with aching head, sitting up in his bunk and cursing the old traders hospitality.
When the vessel was well outside the reef, Brice bade him good-bye, and getting his boat alongside started for the shore.
I willI mustclear out of this, he was telling himself as the boat swept round the point of the passage on the last sweep of the ocean swell. I cant stay under the same roof with him day after day, month after month, and not feel my folly and her weakness. But where the deuce I can get to for five months till the schooner comes back, I dont know. Theres the Mission, but that is too close; the old fellow would only bring me back again in a week.